Saxophone key mounting



' Nov. 30, 1948. F. E. COMER SAXOPHONE KEYI MOUNTING Filed June 17, 1946 Patented Nov. 30, 1948 SAXPHONE KEY MOUNTING Floyd E. Comer, Bristol, Ind., assignor to Buescher Band Instrument Co., Elkhart, Ind.

Application June 17, 1946, Serial No. 677,126v

AThisinvention relates to musical instruments of thewind type.

* Any object of this invention is to provide in a windinstrument, an improved pivotal mounting for the keys or levers.'

v Another object yof this invention is to provide an improved pivot mounting for keys which will firmly hold the keys on the supporting posts but y which Iwill eliminate the usual pivot screws and will make easy the mounting or removal of the keys on the supporting posts.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved pivot mounting wherein the parts are-concealed and will not become loosened or broken under undue strain or stress.

As'till` further object of this invention is to provide an improved pivot mounting for keys on musical instruments as saxophones or the like which comprises a spring-pressed pivot member carried by the pivot rod engageable in an apertured pivot post in such amanner that the key assembly may be installed or removed without any special tools or without any special skill.

With the above and -othenpbjects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details ofconstruction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Y In the drawings: Us Wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the respective views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a key of a musical instrument mounted with a pivot constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a different key mounted on a pivot of this invention,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Heretofore in mounting keys of saxophones and similar instruments on the pivot posts, it has been the custom to use small screws which are threaded into the pivot post and have a reduced or plain pointed section extending into a recess of the pivot member. In order to provide for a smooth surface it has been the custom to counterbore the pivot post so the head of the screw head can be recessed in the post. This type of mounting requires much accurate machine work in forming the screws and in machining threads and a counterbore in the post, all of which requires much time and expense in the original manufacturing of the parts, and especially in repairing the keys 4 claims. (C1. 844-385) where the screws and posts had to be individually made and tted.

As there are several different length hinge tubes used on each instrument, the method of mounting each is slightly different from the others. The conventional method of mounting the hinge tubes of short length has been to run Ia screw through one post, through the hinge tube, and screwit into the opposite post. On the longer types, the conventional construction has been to have a conical type of pivot screw screwed into the knob at each end of the key, the conical portion extending into the key rod or hinge tube.

By using a construction as set forth in this in-` vention, the difficult and expensive machining is eliminated in both the screws and post thereby reducing the manufacturing and maintenance costs and providing a more suitable mounting.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 designates generally a tubular body of a musical instrument such as a saxophone or like instrument upon which is mounted a key II. The key II is mounted on a hinge tube or rod I2 by brazing or other suitable attaching means and operates as a lever for opening the valves I4 which are also xed to the rod I2. In the drawings, Figures i and 5 show the mounting for the long type of key rod l2, while Figures 2 and 4 depict the short hinge tube I2a.

For supporting the key rod I2 there is provided apair of supporting posts l5 which are xed on the body IU, one at each end of the rod I2. The posts I5 are formed with a rounded knob I6 at the upper end thereof. The knob I6 isv formed with an outwardly diverging irusto-conical opening I'I on one side thereof and a small drilled passage I8 extending from the apex of the opening I1 through the knob I6.

The key rod I2 is formed with a lengthwise bore l'9 at each end thereof, concentric with the rod I2. Enclosed within the bore I9 is a spring 2H and a pivot pin 2| slidable therein. The spring 2l) is between the inner end wall of the bore I9 and the inner end of the pin 2| for constantly urging the pin 2| outwardly. The pin 2l is formed of a cylindrical member havinga nat inner end and a rounded tapered outer end, the outer end being engageable in the opening I'I of the post I5.

For shorter key mountings, a tube or hinge tube I2a is more applicable, and a pair of opposed pivot pins 2l are slidable therein having a spring 20 disposed between the inner flat ends of the pins 2| for urging the pins 2| outwardly with respect to each other and the tube I2a.

In the use and operation of this type of mounting, the spring 20 and pins 2| are inserted into the hinge |2 or |2a, then one pin is engaged in the opening of its supporting post l5, then the other pin 2| is pressed inwardly by the ngers of an operator and the hinge 2 is placed in position at which time the springs 20 will press the pins 2| into their respective positions in the openings |l.

For removing the hinges |2 and |211, it is necessary to push a pin or other thin instrument through the opening |8 to press the pin 2| within the tube |2a or bore 'i9 and then raise the end of the tube or rod until it is disengaged from the knob I6. The pins 2| inithe'longrod `|2must be pres-sed in farther than in the short tubes |211, so to prevent the pin or removing tool from sliding on the rounded end of the pin 2|, there is provided a small bore 22 in the rounded end thereof in which the removing pin may be engaged: while pushing 4the' pivotxpin 2| into-thezbore I9.

' :Itmaybe desirable toemploy twodifferent typesoi' -lceymounting pins for supporting the tulle lzonthepoststl. As an example, a convention'al .pivot screw pin could be used on one endtand aspring'tensione'd" pin Il on the other endf.` construction of'this `type would take up the eudjplayinthe, keys and would provide for moreiready alignment of the keys and thepivots.

=I doenotl mean'toconne myself. to the exact detail'sof'i construction. herein disclosed', but. claim all variations falling within the purview' of the appended claimsi I-Having'fthus described my invention, .what I claim-"isi: t f

.En a key mounting ofthe kind: described, a hinge rod?, saidro'dl formed `with a concentrichore atfeaeh endvthereo'f, a spring'in each-k of! said bores and-pinssl'idable ineach of'said bores, said' pins formed with a `flat inner end and a rounded outer endan'd4A each of said pins formed Withlongi-tudinaboreextendng inwardly-from the tipy ofv said roundedfendfconcentric to-said pin andthe bore or"lv said Qhinge' rod.

2i spring pressedY pin mounting comprising an'fel'onga'ted tubular Y'memhexg a--cylin'drical pin slidableeinsaid tubular member and extensible from an end thereof, a supporting post-adjacent anrendlof said-tubular member, said post formed With an outwardly divergent f-rustro-conical opening on one side thereof and a reduced diameter bore through said post extending from the apex of said frustro-com'cal opening, a conical end on said pin engageable in said frustraconical opening in said post, said pin formed with a concentric bore opening outwardly from the apex of said conical end.

3. A spring pressed pin mounting comprising a supporting post formed with afrustro-conical opening on one side thereof and a reduced diameter bore extending through said post from the apex of said opening concentric thereto, a tubular member open at at lea-st one end thereof, the open end of said member disposed in close A proximity to the divergent opening of said post,

a spring pressed pin slidable in said member, a

conical end onsaid pin engageable in said frustroconical opening, said pin formed with a reduced diameter bore opening from the apex of said conical end for registry in alignment with the reducedrbore oi `saixigpost whereby a. slender tool may be engaged through said post: and in vthe endi of said pin, forrpressing said pin into said member vaga-inst :the spring tension for removing said member from said post.

v4; a springypressed pinmounting including a post 1ra-ving anopening therethrough, aan-y open endedV mernfoenand a spring pressed pin sliclable in said member and extensible into' the opening or said post, anI end onsaid pin having an annular configuration corresponding Ito the inner contour of saidopening and' said pin formed: with a. reduced opening atsaid end-opening therefrom rwhereloya. slender toolmay he engaged through said post and into said' reduced opening, to slide said Ipin: intoi said member against thespring tension for-.detaching said member from: said post;

. yFLOYD E. COMER.

REFERENCES' CITEE The following references are. of recordV in the l'e voi this patent:

'Ibach Jan- 12;` 1943 

